News

Barbara Jean Basila (89) died on Thursday, October 31, after a brief illness. She was born to Kathryn and Henry Damsen on August 6, 1930. Barbara attended Roosevelt High in Fresno. Upon graduation, she worked for a brief time at the phone company.

Barbara loved to dance and met her future husband Anthony Basila at the former Ross Ballroom in Fresno in 1948. They married on January 7, 1950. She lived on the farm and raised her children. After raising her family, she decided it was time to go back to work. She worked at World Savings for a time.

Josephine Elisisda Jimenez (16) was born on March 13, 2003, to Raymond and Maria Jimenez in Madera, California. Josephine attended Madera High School and was hopeful of joining the military to study in the medical field. She had blessed and touched the hearts of everyone who came across her radiant smile and beautiful, kind soul. She enjoyed sports, church, and time spent with her loved ones.

Josephine was preceded in death by her grandparents Ruth and Eddie Reyes, and her grandfather James Buss. She has gone from this earth leaving behind her parents Raymond and Maria Jimenez, her grandmother Lilia Buss, her grandparents Raymond and Vicky Jimenez, her siblings Christina, Alexus, Renee, Raymond, and Leticia, as well as many other family members and friends.

Evonne Gilman (82) passed away at the age of 82 in Santa Cruz. Born to Roy Giuseppe Sordi and Grace Helm Sordi, she was raised in Madera and graduated from Madera High School. She retired as City Clerk with the City of Madera following a 15-year career in city government. Evonne also worked as a court reporter and for many years, owned and operated Woods n’ Goods furniture store with her husband John.

Evonne was a prolific knitter who enjoyed making baby clothes and blankets for her family and friends. She will fondly be remembered, as a generous, loving person who would knit a sweater for you if you asked her. Many fond memories will always be cherished of her love, for talking over coffee, playing cards, and her voracious reading of novels. Following her retirement and the passing of her husbands, Roger Wolfe, John Stephenson, and Virgil Gilman, Evonne moved to Elk Grove, and for a time resided in Paradise, California before moving to the Santa Cruz area recently.

Vincent James Chiaramonte (95), a native of San Jose, California and a resident of Madera California since 1980 passed away suddenly at his home on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Vincent had retired as a foreman from FMC Corporation following a career that spanned 45 years with the company.

Vincent was youngest of 13 children born to Sicilian Immigrants Salvatore Chiaramonte and Alfonza Piazza Chiaramonte. A former resident in the Santa Clara Valley before relocating to Madera with FMC, Vincent enjoyed his leisure time in the San Joaquin Valley and Sierras fishing, hunting and gardening at home. His most memorable trip was an a Alaska safari where he bagged a moose and a caribou and of course salmon. His greatest joys in life was being “G-PA” to his 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren and spoiling them with his legendary French Toast.

Mary Louise Biscay Bidegain (98), the middle child of Jean and Julie Biscay, was born on July 25, 1921 in Madera. She graduated from Madera High School and went on to become a hairdresser, owning her own beauty shop in Madera. Louise later met and married Jim Bidegain, and through their 52 years together, they enjoyed visiting relatives in France and traveling to many countries around the world. She was fluent in French, and a wonderful aunt to her many nieces and nephews.

After her husband passed away, Louise managed the ranch and later moved to Cedar Creek in Madera. She lived an exemplary life and was a model for the next generation… and was an excellent cook! The family appreciates the service of her caregiver, Lucille Gamble and the entire staff and friends at Cedar Creek, they were wonderful.

Violet Beckett Bounds (91) passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2019 in Madera, CA. She came to Madera in 1954 after the loss of her husband Jesse Carless Beckett. Violet was an employee at Westgate Convalescent Hospital for 10 years. She enjoyed cooking for children at the First Baptist Church Daycare Center.

Violet is survived by her four children a son, Carles Beckett and his wife Georgia, three daughters, Ginger Blackburn and her husband Larry, Kay McCullough and her husband Ken and Alice Westerling. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren, Wade Beckett, Wesley Beckett, Wendy Beckett Manzo, Lonnie Blackburn, Gina Leneé, Jason McCullough, Kellie McCullough, Laura Westerling Williams and Tyler Westerling, fifteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.